Auto sales gave us another piece of solid data, with a 2.7% increase m/m and 10% increase Y/Y. For the graphs, see Calculated Risk. Strong durable goods sales figures tell us the consumer has a certain level of confidence in the economic future.

The service sector of the economy picked-up:The NMI™ registered 53.7 percent in May, 0.6 percentage point higher
than the 53.1 percent registered in April. This indicates continued
growth at a slightly faster rate in the non-manufacturing sector. The
Non-Manufacturing Business Activity Index registered 56.5 percent, which
is 1.5 percentage points higher than the 55 percent reported in April,
reflecting growth for the 46th consecutive month.

Construction spending also increased:The U.S. Census Bureau of the Department of Commerce announced today that construction spending during April 2013 was estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $860.8 billion, 0.4 percent (±1.6%)* above the revised March estimate of $857.7 billion. The April figure is 4.3 percent (±2.0%) above the April 2012 estimate of $825.1 billion. Note that residential construction increased at an 18% Y/O/Y clip, and total private construction is up 9% Y/O/Y.

The trade balance registered -$40.4 billion in the latest report. Of particular interest here is the graph of US exports:

The last 12-14 readings have this number printing right around the $130 billion level. This shows how the EU and Chinese slowdown are hitting US exporters and partially explains the weaker manufacturing numbers we're been seeing.

The bad

The manufacturing ISM number printed at 49. This is actually in line with some of the weakness we've see in the regional manufacturing surveys over the last few months (see the latest Philly Fed index and Richmond Fed survey). The internals of the report showed the slowdown was caused by slowing international markets and contracting government spending in the US.

Overall economic activity increased at a modest to moderate pace since
the previous report across all Federal Reserve Districts except the
Dallas District, which reported strong economic growth. The
manufacturing sector expanded in most Districts since the previous Beige
Book. Most Districts noted slight to moderate gains in consumer
spending and a moderate increase in vehicle sales. Tourism showed signs
of strength in several Districts. A wide variety of business services
expanded, and transportation traffic increased for producer, consumer,
and trade goods. Residential real estate and construction activity
increased at a moderate to strong pace in all Districts. Commercial real
estate and construction activity grew at a modest to moderate pace in
most Districts. Overall bank lending increased since the previous
report. Credit quality and deposits increased, while credit standards
were largely unchanged. Agricultural conditions remained mixed across
Districts, as weather patterns varied. Overall activity in the energy
sector was flat, and mining was down.

Let's turn to the charts:

The 60 minute SPY chart shows that prices moved from 169-160 in a disciplined trend channel. After hitting support right around the 50% Fib level,prices moved strongly higher, breaking through the upper channel.

On the daily chart, note that prices hit support at the trend line the connects the early January and mid-April lows.

Both ETFs that track the belly of the treasure curve are still trading right at technical support. However, a move lower looks more and more likely. Consider the following news:

Investors
have pulled a record $12.53bn out of global bond funds in the past
week, beating a speedy retreat from fixed income holdings that can fall
in value as interest rates rise.

Two-thirds of the total outflows came from US funds, where nervousness
over the Federal Reserve’s next moves in monetary policy is at its
height. EPFR’s data stretch back to 2001.

The dollar has fallen sharply over the last week, dropping a little over 3%. Prices are now right below the 200 day EMA and resting on the 38.2% Fib level from the mid-July highs and mid-September lows. We see a bit of a volume spike, but nothing indicating more than a standard sell-off.